Hidden Gems: Meet Michael Bernot of West Side Catholic Center

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Bernot.

Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My path to where I am today was anything but linear.

From a young age, I was raised to value service to others. I attended schools that emphasized service, volunteered regularly, and participated in extracurricular activities with service components woven throughout them.

During my senior year of high school, I attended a retreat that first introduced me to the West Side Catholic Center—now my current place of employment. During that retreat, we spent three days in the Ohio City neighborhood volunteering at several organizations. Until recently, the only one of those places I distinctly remembered was West Side Catholic Center. I was captivated by the organization itself: the work being done, the opportunities we were given as volunteers, and the staff and recurring volunteers who showed up week after week in service to others.

In college, I changed both my major and eventually my university as I worked to figure out what I wanted my future to look like. I ultimately earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Dayton—not because I had a specific career path in mind, but because I found the subject deeply interesting and had taken so many sociology electives that it became my most direct path to graduation.

After college, I explored several different professions. My first career role was in sales, but the economic downturn of 2008 led to the elimination of that position in November of that year. Suddenly, at 25 years old, I found myself tending bar at night, searching for jobs during the day, and piecing together odd jobs to stay afloat—all while lacking a clear sense of long-term direction.

Then, in April 2009, I was offered a contract opportunity at my alma mater, Lake Catholic High School in Mentor, assembling the school’s quarterly newsletter. During my interview, the school president told me he believed I had the instincts for Advancement and Development work. That belief led to a one-year contract beginning in July 2009 as Development Assistant.

I quickly fell in love with the work: data management, communications, alumni relations, fundraising, and event planning. It felt like a natural fit. Over the course of seven years at Lake Catholic, I was promoted twice and ultimately led the department as Vice President of Institutional Advancement from 2012 to 2016.

After seven years, I felt ready for something different and took an unexpected detour from Advancement to run a wine bar where I had worked as a second job since 2007. My ambition was to eventually buy into the business and gain partial ownership. But after two years, I realized I deeply missed purpose-driven, mission-centered work.

As I began exploring local Advancement opportunities, nothing felt quite right.

Then one day, while waiting to open the bar and absentmindedly scrolling through Facebook, I saw a post from West Side Catholic Center announcing an opening for Director of Advancement. I immediately called my mother to tell her. Something about the posting spoke directly to me, and I knew almost instantly this was the role I was meant for.

The posting simply requested a resume via email, which I sent—but I also assembled a binder with my resume, cover letter, and work samples and mailed it directly to the Executive Director. I was determined not to be overlooked simply because I was currently managing a bar.

Fortunately, the extra effort worked.

I was invited to interview first with the Executive Director and former Executive Director, followed by a second interview with members of the Board of Directors and staff members who would later become my direct reports.

I began as Director of Advancement at West Side Catholic Center on February 5, 2018, and the experience was more fulfilling than I can adequately describe.

I served in that role until September 1, 2022, when I was given the honor and responsibility of serving in the dual role of Interim Executive Director while maintaining my Advancement responsibilities. Our Executive Director had accepted a new opportunity elsewhere, and the Board entrusted me with helping “keep the ship steady” while they conducted a search for new leadership.

Because I was already serving in the role, I applied for the permanent Executive Director position. At the time, I made clear that if I was not selected, I would happily continue serving as Director of Advancement and support whoever stepped into the leadership role.

That contingency ultimately wasn’t necessary.

I was offered the opportunity to serve as permanent Executive Director beginning January 1, 2023.

And that is where I remain today—serving the mission, the community, and the organization that first inspired me years earlier as a high school student on retreat. It still feels surreal to me at times – like I captured lightning in bottle.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t say smooth, but definitely fill with support.
From my previous response I identify my times of struggle as:
My college years trying to find my place, purpose, and direction.
My first career job in sales being eliminated due to economic downturn.
My deviation from mission-centric work for a couple years and my attempt to return to it.

We’ve been impressed with West Side Catholic Center, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The West Side Catholic Center (WSCC) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization in the Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. With the mission statement, “Grounded in faith, hope, love and respect for those we serve, the West Side Catholic Center assists all who come in need of food, clothing, shelter, advocacy and a path to self-sufficiency.” we identify as a health and human services agency whose work assists vulnerable and marginalized populations struggling through homelessness, poverty, and a variety of barriers.

Through five main programs we serve approximately 9,000+ unique individuals who come to us for one or more services annually, with many coming to us regularly.
Our program with the greatest service output quantity is our Resource Center which provides 30 basic needs services ranging from daily hot meals, clothing distribution, showers, mailboxes, and food pantries, to identification recovery, substance abuse assessments, and expressive arts programs with a trauma-informed approach. This program accounts for 7,892 unique individuals served one or more times throughout 2025.

Our second program is our Moriah House Emergency Family Shelter, a 35 bed facility that offer temporary residence to parents with children and female military veterans designated by the VA. Each family receives their own rom, daily meals, personal care items, and linens. They also have access to laundry facilities, phones, community rooms, a specialized play room, and a computer lab. In 2025, 208 total adults and children resided with us – 75 families and 23 veterans. Our average length of stay was 49 days.

Our third program is Zacchaeus Housing Solutions. Working in partnership with another local agency, this program provides Rapid Rehousing to families. Families who qualify receive rent subsidy, assistance with locating housing, rent & utility assistance, and education on being a good tenant. They are provided a case manager who meets with them regularly to develop a case plan and goals toward self-sufficiency. In 2025, 74 families composed of 77 adults and 105 children benefited from this program.

Our fourth program is our Family Programming, composed of two different offerings:
Family Engagement is a wraparound support program that provides classes, groups, services, and events that offer social support and promote youth and family development. Staff assists with the development of service plans, linkage to resources, early identification and assistance with developmental challenges. In 2025, 258 families and 629 children were served through this program.
Family Success Network is a state-sponsored program through Ohio Children’s Trust Fun housed at our organization and provides services specifically tailored to each family. Offerings include family coaching, money management, linkage to existing financial assistance, parenting support, and connection to community supports. In 2025, 227 families and 395 children were served through this program.

Our fifth and final program offered at this time is our Workforce Development Program and Culinary Academy. This program facilitates the opportunity for job seekers to address their barriers to employment and help develop plans to address their individualized needs. Students enrolled in the program undertake a four weeks of Job Skill and Self-Sufficiency coaching, with the option of attending a two week concentrated Culinary Academy upon graduation of the four week program. In 2025, 46 students attended course, 23 graduated, and 12 received job placements within one month of graduation.

As you can see, what sets us apart is the breadth of our offerings as an agency. Our programs are created, expanded, or condensed based on the needs of the community we serve and the partnerships we have in place. We have a great reputation for collaborating with other agencies to better serve those who come in need and welcome the expertise of others so as not to fall into a pattern of “mission creep”.

As a nearly 50 year old agency, we are firmly rooted in our community, a known local entity, and have a reputation for being good stewards, responsible and informed collaborators, and a necessary entity for the services we offer.

In addition, I am most proud that we offer all our services to clients free of charge, and are able to do so because of a generous, diverse support community, local government, and foundations. Further, we are able to do this work due to the kindness and selflessness of an incredible volunteer core that averages 416 hours of service WEEKLY at the West Side Catholic Center and save us the equivalent of 20 full-time positions.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I think I covered a lot in the prior questions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wsccenter.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wsccenter/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecatholiccenter/
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/west-side-catholic-center/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUos2ZObXzuQsL5tBnsQLSg/videos